Fruit Decorated Pottery Appraisal

Lidded Ceramic Fruit Motif Serving Dish on Pedestal

The item is a lidded ceramic dish, likely a serving dish or trinket box, resting on a pedestal base. The lid is predominantly white ceramic, featuring an embossed design of various fruits including pineapples, grapes, and other unidentified fruits, giving it a 'fruit basket' or 'cornucopia' aesthetic. The relief details are painted in an off-white to cream color, creating subtle contrast. There are small, dark, circular accents (possibly painted dots or raised beads) along the rim of the lid, mimicking decorative studs or stitching. The edge of the lid and the entire pedestal base are finished in a metallic gold color, suggesting gilding or a gold-tone electroplate, which provides a striking contrast to the white ceramic. The pedestal base elevates the dish, giving it a more formal and elegant appearance. Observable condition issues include significant wear or damage on the top center of the lid, where a large, irregular brownish-orange stain or missing glaze/material is present, indicating either impact damage, prolonged disuse, or a manufacturing flaw that has deteriorated. The gold finish on the base and rim appears to show some signs of aging or tarnishing, consistent with its likely age. The overall style suggests it could be from the mid-20th century, possibly the 1950s or 1960s, given the decorative and somewhat kitschy nature of the fruit motif combined with the gold accents. The item's construction appears to be ceramic, possibly porcelain or earthenware, given its opaque white appearance. The quality of craftsmanship seems to be moderate, focusing on decorative appeal rather than intricate hand-painted details. It's designed as a display piece or for serving, but the damage on the lid significantly impacts its aesthetic integrity and potential value.